Discover IC Panorama
What does international cooperation mean? In the panorama of the IC working world you will find definitions, actors and career examples.
People involved in development projects or humanitarian work are usually posted overseas. They are more exposed to danger than the average citizens of an economically developed and politically stable country: natural hazards, mosquitoes, diseases and epidemics, water shortages, power cuts, traffic accidents, riots and demonstrations, petty theft, crime and robbery, unexpected encounters with armed people, curfews, hostage taking and kidnappings, not to forget fires and computer viruses - and the list is far from exhausted.
In some contexts, the mere fact of being a foreigner from a rich Western country, or being perceived as one, can be an added risk.
Managing one’s own stress and maintaining an adequate life domain balance plays a crucial role in reducing the probability of hazards, or in minimizing their consequences. The capacity to communicate and to interact smoothly with colleagues from other cultural backgrounds, as well as the ability to establish a healthy atmosphere in a team, is also a significant risk-reducing factor.
People who choose to work in the humanitarian and development sector should be responsible enough to adopt personal safety and security measures.
Those who employ humanitarian aid and development workers also bear an added legal responsibility, known as ’Duty of Care’, to make sure that their staff is not exposed to unnecessary harm. International organisations and major non-governmental organisations have already put in place safety measures and security regulations to protect their staff, their premises and their data.
Specialists posted abroad need checklists and manuals to deal with stress and safety, so that they can concentrate on their main tasks.
In volatile contexts, where armed robberies, kidnappings and hostage taking are becoming more frequent, the more responsible employers have also established a contingency plan and communication procedures in case of such a crisis. A few have adopted measures to provide necessary psychological support for victims of serious security incidents and for their family members.
Go through these points before you leave and once you have arrived at your duty station:
What does international cooperation mean? In the panorama of the IC working world you will find definitions, actors and career examples.
Security and Stress Management for NGOs
5-7 September 2016
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